Messages - Simon Watson

Hi Graham,i have been off this site for a while, but have returned to it and have just seen your post.I don't remember any of you guys, but I lived in Tanga from 52 to 61 and then Dar from 61 to 65.I played Cricket in Morogoro for Tanga,Dar and for the Tanganyika Twigas so spent many days at a Hotel there.I also used to get the Coach at the end of term from Sao-Hill School going to Dar via Morogoro.I would then fly to Tanga.I guess you still live in UK now? I am based in Gibraltar and Spain. Best..Simon.

Is there anyone out there that remembers us from Mzumbe were we lived from 1955-1964 , my mother Beryl Leslie was head of Morogoro school and my father was head of the local Government school in Mzumbe, we lived in Giraffe house and i Graham Leslie went to Mbaya School, my sister Josephine Leslie schooled in Morogoro. My father Ronald Leslie sadly died suddenly in 1964 while we were in the uk, we never returned.

Hi David,The new format looks really good!!Well done!Many thanks for your answer of today as regards my post of last week, but both seem to have vanished off my screen.I guess this is a temporary thing.By the way the forum spelling of Soa Hill should read Sao Hill.Keep up the good work.

Sorry,no photos of Lady Lead's house. As far as I know she didn't have to work! I believe it's possible that Sisal grew on her plantation and she derived a living from the sales,especially as in the 50s Tanga was the largest exporter of Sisal in the World.

I have been waiting for news regarding my Father's old Architect friend before writing back but no joy as yet! It might take a while as my Dad is no longer around and i have contacted a couple of people who are now unfortunately not totally compos mentis! Very sad!

Lady Lead...That's a name I remember even as a child. Massive house!My parents knew her and went to Bridge parties etc..

Hi Graham,I have been looking through my Father's Photo Albums and Dar address book between 1961 and 1966 hoping to find something for you but nothing has come to light,but i do know that he had an Architect friend from Dar who might still be alive.I will check. Do you know whether your Grandfather was a Cricketer or Tennis player and frequented the Gymkhana Club? Knowing this might help.

It's so strange reading about your Mother and her sisters. They are older than me, but i too went to Sao-Hill,but between 1957 and 1961 and in the 50s whilst we were living in Tanga, we used to go to Lushoto to take out friends at the School there or play Cricket. Also being a car nut even then, i remember Riddoch Motors all over Tanganyika.Best regards...Simon.

Hi Annie, Welcolm to "nTZ". How are you? My name is Simon.I don't know the Gentleman that you are seeking,but I knew and liked Iringa and Mbeya well. I too went to Sao-Hill, but in 1957-1961. I hope you receive an answer from an nTZ Member as regards your post. Best regards...Simon.

Hi Richard,thanks so much for posting these photos! I wish I had seen them before.I went to Sao-Hill School from 1957-61 and remember the distance sign. This De Havilland Heron Aircraft with Princess Margaret aboard also went to Tanga where we lived. I was supposed to have gone to the Airport with my parents but did'nt want to dress-up so I vanished into the bundu to avoid that ordeal!!Tanga Hospital for me meant a broken wrist,Butcher Buck the Dentist and a 5 day stay with Malaria. Very best...Simon Watson.

Hi Naomi, I hope you don't mind me asking you, or possibly Pat, whether either of you could tell me whether Paul Retzlaff Junior attended the Southern Highlands School?(Sao-Hill) The name is "ringing bells" that all! It would seem very unlikely, as Arusha School would I quess be the obvious choice, unless he played Cricket for Arusha and hence I have remembered his name. Thanks...Simon Watson.

Hi Andrew, I confirm that the photo is Geoffrey Holland with his Labrador "Jet". I would quess that this photo was taken in 1958 when "Jet" was a pup, as he did'nt have the dog in 1957 which was my first year.

Separately to this issue of yours Andrew,I find it amazing that there were 50-60 pupils at the Southern Highland School in 1957,but not one has made any comments as regards your issue, or any other posts of mine since I joined nTZ 3 years ago! Bizaar! V best....Simon.

Hi Andrew, I was at Sao Hill between 1957-61. I would estimate that he was fourty when I left which would make him 90+ today. Are you sure that he is still alive? With respect, I lost count how many canings I had through his un-necessary cruelness, so it surprises me somewhat that somebody would want to make contact with him! His black Labrador Jet was brilliant though!! V best...Simon.

Hi..... I did'nt see the BBC programme of tuesday as I did'nt know of its existance. Do you know whether a repeat is scheduled? I lived in Tanga between 1952 and 1961 and a friend of mine also living in Tanga went to Soni. He returned home fairly "Black and Blue" from canings etc.... So did I sometimes upon return from Sao-Hill but not as excessive. I remember his Mum saying something about it, but that's all I can recall. I also cannot see his name in your many hundreds of Members but many people do not disclose their IDs on the Member's listing. Best Regards...Simon Watson.

Hi June, It was interesting to see your post on the Tanganyika Army mutiny.In my post of December, I put the date as December 1963.I was wrong,as it was in fact January 20th 1964. What I had'nt realised was that it affected the up-country regions such as Arusha and Moshi, as I was told at the time it was coast-based only.Arusha was indeed a lovely place with really clean air.I played cricket in 1964 to 1967 for the Tanganyika Twigas and we played at Arusha against Kenya. Best Wishes...Simon.

I know that your post was ages ago,but I can confirm that it was Dec 63.I was with my Dad at Oyster Bay in Dar under "House-Arrest" for 2-3 days. Most of the rebels were high on Pombe and when the British Commandos arrived vanished into the Bundu and not seen again.....We were thus released! Best Regards...Simon Watson.